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Starting with the early explorations by the Fish Commission's steamer Albatross, federal fisheries activities in Alaska have been dependent on a variety of vessels. The immensity of Alaska and the diversity of responsibilities led to the use of many types and sizes of vessels to support federal fisheries research, enforcement, and other activities such as transportation, navigational maintenance, and search and rescue.

Some of the boats were built specially for these duties, while others were purchased, or obtained as transfers from other government agencies – i.e., military surplus vessels, or the "bear" boats received from the Alaska Game Commission. These vessels were then refitted or modified for fisheries service in Alaska waters.

Over the years, the original Fish Commission evolved into: the Bureau of Fisheries (BOF) in 1904,
the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 1940, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries (BCF) in 1956,
and in 1970, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as part of NOAA.

During these transition periods, most of the vessels were retained within the Bureau's Alaska fleet. Some, however, were transferred; for example, to the State of California, University of Washington, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) around 1960 following Alaska's statehood.

Several of the vessels presented in the featured sections, such as the Auklet, Eider, Teal, John N. Cobb, Murre II and Miller Freeman, proved to be the most notable workhorses, performing a variety of tasks and providing many years of continued fisheries service in Alaska.

As one digs deeper you also find a forgotten Alaska fleet of marine poaching enforcement and general support vessels. In fact, several generations of boats had connection with fisheries research in Alaska with each generation meeting the specific needs of Bureau activities. The service requirements often resulted in multipurpose boats not only used for the aforementioned activities, but for the transportation of cargo and passengers including government officials and dignitaries visiting Alaska.

Most of these boats and ships were designed, built, and launched without all the fanfare that is associated with the construction of modern fisheries vessels. Most worked hard and were hard-worked in Alaska waters for many years, some continuing on long after their government service. Like their humble beginnings, many of these fine vessels disappeared quietly at the end.

The accounts within these featured sections are based on various information sources, many of which being agency reports that describe some of the vessels that were used in Alaska; including construction details, vessel specifications, years of operation, and primary and secondary responsibilities. Other resources have been newspaper and magazine articles, books, libraries, museums, FWS oral histories, fleet listings, and first-hand communications with some of the vessel owners themselves. Where possible, anecdotal information is also included to describe the outstanding contributions of these vessels made possible by the individuals who served aboard them.

Unfortunately, the available history for several of these boats is sparse. Although a few vessels are known to have been restored, and still exist as of 2013, the fate of many others is unknown. Your help is needed in providing the missing pieces and historical stories for these government fisheries boats that had operated in Alaska. You are welcome to contact Victor Lundquist (afsc.historian@noaa.gov).

As the primary author and compiler of this historical vessel section I would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their valuable contributions of information and materials which greatly helped to make these pages as comprehensive as they are: